Missoula Police Arrest Man for Felony DUI, Had a BAC of .227

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 1, 2025, at approximately 1:55 PM, a Missoula Police Department officer was on patrol near the intersection of Ryman St. and Broadway when dispatch advised units of a possible DUI driver near Pine St. and Ryman. Dispatch further advised that the reporting party was following the vehicle and had seen it pull into the parking lot of a motel on Broadway.  

An officer arrived and observed a male, later identified as Joseph Lynch, seated in the driver’s seat. The officer knocked on the driver’s side window to get Lynch’s attention and Lynch opened the door. The officer detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Lynch’s breath. The officer also observed that Lynch’s eyes were bloodshot, watery, and droopy.  

As Lynch spoke, his speech was slow and slurred. Lynch stumbled multiple times and had difficulty following simple instructions. Then the officer requested that Lynch perform the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Lynch responded by refusing to participate, stating to the officer that he would “fail” them. Despite multiple opportunities to comply, Lynch continued to refuse and said, “Just let me blow”.  

The officer read Lynch the preliminary breath test advisory, and he consented to provide a breath sample. After multiple attempts, however, Lynch failed to provide an adequate sample. According to court documents, Lynch made multiple statements admitting to being “hammered.”  

Another officer read Lynch the alcohol testing advisory and requested a blood sample. Lynch consented and was transported to St. Patrick’s Hospital, where two vials of blood were collected. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Lynch was subsequently transported to the Missoula County Detention Center, where he was booked for DUI. At the detention center, he provided a breath sample on a portable breath test, which indicated a BAC of .227 which is nearly three times the legal limit.

After Lynch was booked into the jail, the officer contacted the reporting party who said that it took Lynch approximately five minutes to retrieve his keys, during which he stumbled and fell forward three or four times, hitting his head on the truck. After Lynch managed to enter the vehicle, an older male approached him and attempted to dissuade him from driving, offering him a ride or an Uber, but Lynch refused.  

Lynch is currently being charged with felony DUI because he has three prior DUI convictions.  

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.